About Thom Dutton

Shortly after earning his B.Mus. degree in 1982 from Houghton College, Thom Dutton was a featured singer at a wedding. It happened that his accompanist was a harpist, and that was his first enchantment with the harp. He moved from New York to Massachusetts the following year; unable to transport his piano with him, he began playing the harp instead. Thus began a span of thirty-five years playing the harp at more than 1,400 performances.

Thom has been heard in concert from northern Vermont to northern Florida. He has played for the Lord Mayor of Chester in England, as well as for fundraising concerts in Abingdon, England and Coedpoeth, Wales. He has played more than two dozen nights in pubs across Ireland and Northern Ireland. He was a featured performer at the 1994 International Folk Harp Conference and has played at First Night celebrations for over twenty-five years, in three states.

Thom provides elegant background music for any occasion. He has played in venues as varied as Navan Castle in Cavan, Ireland, the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport, MA and the 10th hole of J. J. Clammps Mini Golf on Nantucket. Thom has played for dozens of weddings over his long career. He was named Millennium Harper of Cape Cod by Harping for Harmony for having performed in all twenty-nine nursing homes and rehab facilities on Cape Cod.

As a church musician, Thom provides musical leadership for Celtic Worship, Taize and other contemplative worship services.

Over the years, Thom has been recognized with multiple awards. His honors include the Judge's Overall Performance Award for Outstanding Musicianship at the New England Regional Folk Harp Competition and twice silver medalist at the Mid-Atlantic Folk Harp Competition. He has also received awards for playing incidental music for live theatrical productions: The Evelyn Lawson Award from the Association for Community Theater Excellence for "Eleemosynary" and a Certificate of Recognition Honoring Outstanding Achievement from the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theaters for "Three Tall Women". Thom has recorded five critically acclaimed CDs and has published more than a dozen books of harp music.

Visit Cape Side Music at the following events:

The Harp Gathering at Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio
The weekend between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.
www.harpgathering.com

The Somerset Folk Harp Festival in Princeton, NJ
July
www.somersetharpfest.com

New England Harp Festival in Manchester, CT
Columbus Day Weekend
www.neharp.com

Celtic Charms

A collection of ten traditional Irish & Scottish favorites for harp and voice (or melody instrument in C) arranged by Thom Dutton. There is a wide variety of accompaniments included from the simpler for the beginning harper/singer to the more advanced for the more experienced performer or for the beginner to grow into. This collection can be used for self-accompanied singing or for accompanying another singer or instrumentalist. There are three harp solos included. Keys of C, D, G & F.

$10

Londonderry Aire

The most beloved and well known melody in all of traditional Irish music arranged for harp trio by Thom Dutton. Full score and harp 1 with pullouts for harp 2 and 3. Special techniques include harmonics, glissando and tremolo. Key of C.

$7.95

Ten Tunes for Troubadour Harp

​A collection of ten etudes composed by harpist Janice Glover designed to teach techniques peculiar to the harp. Suitable for beginner to intermediate pedal or lever harps. Musical elements highlighted include right and left hand arpeggios, thumb slides, rolled chords, finger placement, glissandos, harmonics, left hand cross-overs, grace notes, pdlt and string muffling. Keys of C, G & D.

“I highly recommend this book to teachers who are looking for a different way to teach students basic harp technique and for harpers looking for an alternative approach to boring exercises.” - Folk Harp Journal review by Darhon-Rees-Rohrbacher

$10

The Water is Wide

One of the most beloved traditional English folk songs arranged for multi-level harp quartet by Linda Warren. Harp 4 can be used as a stand alone solo. The other parts can be added as a duet, a trio or a quartet. Mix and match! Key of C.

$9.95

Let The Trumpet Sound

A collection of Baroque trumpet tunes and voluntaries appropriate for wedding processionals and recessionals arranged for harp by Thom Dutton. Keys of C, G & D. Also available as a pdf download.

“If you play weddings, you’ll find this book invaluable!” -Sylvia Woods

$10

Skye Songs

Thom Dutton has arranged 17 airs and dances from the legendary Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland.

These late beginner/early intermediate arrangements include guitar chords, dynamics, traditional ornamentation and helpful fingerings. Time signatures include 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 and 12/8. One tune requires lever changes which are indicated between the staves and with diamond symbols in the score. Techniques include harmonics, soundboard taps, left hand crossovers, thumb slides, gushing chords and downward rolls. Each piece is one to two pages long so there are no page turns. Keys are C, G/Em, D/Bm and F/Dm and are best played on a 36 string harp. 16 pages of music. Also available as a pdf download.

$11.95

A Dozen Doubles

A Dozen Doubles features tunes written by Turlough O’Carolan for eleven of his patrons and friends (Bridget Cruise, George Brabazon, Mrs. Delaney, William Eccles, Mrs. Fallon, Miss McDermott, Kitty Magenis, Charles O’Conor, Mrs. O’Neill, Eleanor Plunket and Fanny Power) plus his popular Carolan’s Draught arranged by Thom Dutton for double-strung harp. The collection was edited by double-strung harp performer/ instructor Karen Peterson. Keys of C, G/Em, F & Bb. Also available as a pdf download. 

$9.95

Carolan’s Ramble To Cashel

A Truly ‘rambling’ arrangement of the Turlough O’Carolan classic arranged for harp solo/duet with optional C instrument by Thom Dutton. Key of G.

$4.95

Celtic Christmas

A collection of 26 Yuletide Carols from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany and Cornwall arranged by Thom Dutton, RoJean Loucks, Jennifer Pratt-Walter and Darhon Rees- Rohrbacher. Keys of C, G, D & F. Also available as a pdf download.

$18

Christmas, An International Tradition

Eleven favorite carols arranged by Diane L. Mayer. Traditional tunes from England, Spain, France, Czechia, Ukraine and Russia. Keys of C, G & F.

“All I can say is WOW! Your arrangements are awesome!.....I like the fact that your choices of tunes are so lovely, yet not the ones that are played over and over during the Christmas season.....I also like the way that, without burdening the player with large, complex chords, you have been able to capture the essence of the chords that give each of these pieces character.....Some people have a knack for (arranging) well, others only aspire to arrange. You have a real gift for doing it!" - Lee Gayman, satisfied customer

$10

Celtic Christmas 2

45 more Yuletide carols from Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and Galicia arranged for solo harp by Thom Dutton. Keys of C, G, D, A & F. Also available as a pdf download.

$19.95

Appalachian Christmas

A collection of eleven traditional American Carols, nine of which have been arranged twice - as harp solos and as harp accompanying voice or C melody instrument. Mix & match! All arrangements are by Thom Dutton. Keys of C, G & D.

$10

The Water is Wide

One of the most beloved traditional English folk songs arranged for 3 octaves of handbells and harp (or keyboard) by Linda Warren. Hal Hopson used this melody for his very popular choral piece The Gift Of Love. Key of C.

Full score - $2.95
Handbell part - $1.95
Harp part - $1.95

Three Irish Hymn Tunes

Three of the most popular Irish hymn tunes are arranged for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells and harp (or keyboard): St Columba (The King Of Love My Shepherd Is), Slane (Be Thou My Vision/Lord Of All Hopefulness) and Clonmel (Now Let Us All In Hymn Of Praise). Keys of C & Bb.

Full score - $7.95
Handbell part - $8.95
Harp part - $6.95

King Of Kings

Arranged for three or four octaves of handbells and harp or keyboard by Thom Dutton, King of Kings incorporates the familiar carols We Three Kings and Good King Wenceslas with the lesser known French carol Le Marche des Ross (The March Of The Three Kings) and the Flemish carol De Drei Konigen (The Three Kings). The ‘King of Kings’ section of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah ties it all together. Perfect for Epiphany as well as the Christmas and Advent seasons. Key of G.

I hadn’t planned on publishing King of Kings until my bell choir performed it. The guest minister that day paused before beginning his sermon and said, “I’ve heard a lot of bell choirs in my day, but I’ve never heard anything quite like that! Bells and harp, and all those special effects techniques.....You’ve really pushed the envelope. Bravo!”

Full score - $5.95
Handbell part - $3.95
Harp part - $2.95

Still, Still, Still

A beautiful arrangement of the Austrian classic for lever harp and two octaves of handbells or hand chimes by Linda Warren. Key of G.

Full score - $2.95
Handbell part - $1.95
Harp part - $1.95

Pas Et Medio

This Renaissance court dance by Teilman Susato has been arranged for lever or pedal harp (or keyboard), two octaves of handbells or hand chimes and C instrument by Thom Dutton. Its delightful polyphonic nature allows each instrument to have its own melody line. Key of C.

Full score - $2.95
Handbell part - $1.95
Harp part - $1.95

Celtic Charms

A collection of traditional Irish and Scottish airs, ballads and lullabies for Celtic harp and voice.

“.....this is an extremely attractive, professionally presented album of Celtic music for harp and voice.....Thom Dutton has a lovely lyric tenor voice which is enhanced by expert self-accompanying. In fact, the most outstanding feature of this album is the most interesting accompanying.....It takes skill to design an unusual accompaniment and then sing it at the same time; Mr. Dutton has succeeded at both. This is a wonderful album with some unusual and charming touches. I recommend it to all Celtophiles”. - Folk Harp Journal Review by Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher.

“.....and oh how he sings. His voice is very pleasant, not at all intrusive and you can relax completely as you listen to his choices. A folk song tells a story and Mr. Dutton’s diction is so precise and clear the I, who was unfamiliar with the songs, had no difficulty following the tales.....” - Cape Codder newspaper review by Marjorie Lawrence-Weidig

“(Dutton’s) voice is strong and expressive and the harp so crisp and stirring. An overall relaxing (recording) haunting lovely old songs that are joys to hear again and again.” - Cindy Lehmkuhl, choral director

$10

Relax

For Centuries societies the world over have used music for relaxation, to bring comfort and to create a healing environment. Join Thom Dutton’s solo harp on this soothing journey through time and across cultures. Perfect for meditating, reading, quiet background music or just for you to relax!

“I’m listening now, and it’s SO restful and peaceful.....Excellent playing and wonderful choice of music. Absolutely beautiful!” - Mona Peck, president of MHTP

“The music is beautiful. It s so centering and peace filled.....” - Rev. Theresa Stirling, labyrinth guide

$10

Song of the Star

A collection of early American, Appalachian and contemporary folk Christmas carols with harp, voice, flute, hammered dulcimer, tenor recorder, fiddle, electric violin, viola da gamba, percussion and chorus.

“.....(Song of the Star) is a wonderful CD - a well-thought-out and inspired program of interesting Christmas music.....skillfully crafted with accompanying voices, interesting instrumentation and occasionally choral back-up.....Thom is bringing some absolutely beautiful yet rarely, if ever heard repertoire to the fore”. - Mountain Streams Gazette review by Jane Wilcox-Hively

“I was happily surprised when I discovered that our own harper, Thom Dutton, has collected and arranged a delightful concert of Christmas music in his new CD ‘Song of the Star’. Thom has a very pleasant voice; it is clear and true, and his diction is phenomenal. ‘Song of the Star’ offers unique Christmas melodies that are very pleasing to the ear and most unobtrusive.....” - Cape Codder newspaper review by Marjorie Lawrence-Weidig

$10

Songs from the Pubs of Ireland

Singer/guitarist Andrew Prete joins Thom Dutton’s harp and voice in this collection of songs that Thom learned while touring in Ireland.

$10